#MyStory – Chris

As part of LGBT History month 2019, we’re sharing personal stories of significant, life-changing moments of acceptance or understanding from our local LGBT+ community.
“Shall not promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.
Local Government Act, 1988 – Prohibition on promoting homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material.

Put yourself in the place of a 13 year old in the Lake District in 1988. The world was in the midst of the AIDS crisis and homophobic articles were common in the national press.
I was the 13 year old that Mrs Thatcher was trying to “protect”. Sadly for her it had the opposite effect.
Gay rights didn’t make it to the Lakes, so TV was the only connection to the outside world. Bringing this revolting clause presented a call to arms, organisations like Stonewall appeared and words Gay and Pride were bandied around. I’d always known I was different but now I wasn’t alone.
It couldn’t have been a better signpost for me, if Margaret T thought homosexuality was wrong, it must be right.
That isn’t to say I had an easy time of it. The 80s were dark and by bringing homophobia to the masses, we all copped it one way or another.
Section 28 was only repealed 15 years ago. We need to remember that our previous Prime Minister was incredibly vocal in keeping it until he did a U-turn in 2009. Our current “leader” has consistently voted against LGBT rights.
2 comments
Shelley
February 7, 2019 at 8:39 am
Growing up in that kind of environment must have been tough Chris. Thankfully, through all the hard work and raising awareness by the LGBTQ 🏳️🌈 community youngsters of today are not persecuted as much. We still have a long way to go but the movement is in the right direction x💗
Treby
February 7, 2019 at 10:45 am
Brilliant. Stark and to the point. ‘Pretended family relationships’? Almost spat out my brekkie tea 😡😩! Lovely as Coniston is I can’t imagine it was the easiest place to be out in as a teenager. You’re amazing Chris – keep loving life!